irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $45KFAMILY RESPITE DAYS: KEYS HOSTED 6 SMILE EXPERENCE FAMILY RESPITE DAYS INCLUDING: SLINGSHOT RACING EXPERIENCE FOR 4 KEYS TEENS AT UTICA ROME SPEEDWAY; FRIENDLY SUMMER FUN FEST AND FRIENDLY CAR SHOW FOR KIDS EVENTS IN HAMILTON FOR 45 KEYS KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH OVER 1,870 FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY; AND THE DUMAC SPONSORED DREAM RIDE EXPERIENCE WEEKEND IN CONNECTICUT FOR 1 AMAZING KEYS KID AND HIS MOM. ALL OF OUR SMILE EXPERIENCES GIVE OUR KEYS KIDS A CHANCE TO CREATE PRECIOUS MEMORIES TOGETHER.
- #2 $2KSMILE CONCERTS: KEYS HOSTED 10 SMILE CONCERTS AND 4 BACKYARD CONCERTS THAT CELEBRATED A KEYS KID EACH CONCERT, 5,593 ATTEND THE CONCERTS IN PERSON AND 19,732 PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE US(AND THE WORLD)TUNED IN TO SHARE MESSAGES OF LOVE, JOY AND HOPE WITH KEYS KIDS & THEIR FAMILIES. WE ALSO HOSTED 2 RECITALS IN THE SPRING AND AT THE HOLIDAYS AT OUR STUDIOS WHERE 35 OF OUR KEYS KIDS PERFORMED FOR THEIR FAMILIES (251 FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDED).
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Family Respite Days
Themed events including slingshot racing, summer fun festivals, car shows, and sponsored dream ride weekends that provide emotional respite and memory-making opportunities for children and families affected by illness
Smile Concerts
Virtual and in-person concerts celebrating individual KEYS kids, featuring musical performances and messages of hope; includes holiday concert series and backyard concerts
Studio Recitals
Spring and holiday recitals held at KEYS studios where children perform music for their families, supporting therapeutic music education and family engagement
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Music Therapy for Ill and Vulnerable Populations 5 activities
- Backyard and private concerts for immunocompromised childrenOrganizes backyard concerts and private musical performances at or near the homes of children undergoing cancer treatment or with compromised immunity, enabling safe access to live music. Also hosts private recitals where KEYS children perform for family members.
- Free music therapy services for children with serious illnesses and their familiesProvides free individual and group music therapy sessions to children battling cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as their siblings and parents, delivered in-person at medical facilities, through virtual platforms, and via home-based outreach. Services are guided by licensed music therapists and include clinical interventions such as songwriting and recording.
- National music therapy outreach and toolkit distributionDistributes Music Toolkits to children's hospital libraries across the United States to support caregivers in delivering music-based interventions. Broadcasts KEYS Kids Network and Monday Night Smile Concerts to sites serving over 1.5 million pediatric patients annually, expanding reach beyond direct service regions.
- Sibling support and grief counseling through musicOffers targeted support for siblings of children with serious illnesses, including opportunities to participate in music therapy, public performances, and memorial events such as singing at a sibling’s Celebration of Life, aiding emotional processing and grief support.
- Smile Concerts and virtual music eventsProduces weekly virtual Smile Concerts and in-person SMILE Concerts that celebrate individual KEYS children and their families, featuring live music performances and community participation. Concerts include pre-show Meet 'n Greet sessions and have drawn tens of thousands of attendees annually, both in-person and online, during and beyond the pandemic.
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Cancer Awareness and Education Initiatives 1 activity
- KEYS Kid Ambassador ProgramRuns an annual ambassador program that selects one child to represent KEYS at public events and advocacy efforts, helping to amplify the organization’s mission and spread awareness about childhood illness and emotional support needs.
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Arts-Based Dementia Engagement Programs 1 activity
- Music therapy programs for older adults and special populationsOperates the Valerie’s Smile Music Therapy program, providing weekly music therapy to older adults with Alzheimer's and dementia in nursing homes. Also contracts with schools, special needs sites, and community groups to deliver fee-based music therapy services to children and adults outside its core pediatric oncology focus.
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Recreational and Emotional Support Programs for Children with Serious Illnesses 1 activity
- Smile Experience family respite daysHosts in-person family respite events called "Smile Experiences" that provide recreational activities such as slingshot racing, car shows, cookouts, and summer festivals for children affected by cancer and their families. These events aim to create joyful memories and offer emotional relief from treatment burdens, serving over 1,400 families annually across multiple events each year.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$449K
Contributions & grants$402K90%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$-45-0%
Other revenue$47K
expenses
Total expenses$448K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$256K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$119K
Cash$59K
Investments$0
Liabilities$17K
Net assets$102K
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +22.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 5
- AMY BOULRICE — President
- ANDREW BENNETT — Trustee
- CHERI SCHMALZ — Secretary
- DONNA MUCKS — Treasurer
- REBECCA SIMPSON — Vice President
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- American Legion Child Welfare Fund Partner — Collaborated to distribute Music Toolkits to children's hospital libraries.
- American Music Therapy Association Network — Member organization of AMTA.
- Andrea Maranville Partner — Celebrity chef who participated in Amelia's "Chef for a Day" Smile Experience.
- Berklee College of Music Partner — Academic institution where a KEYS music therapist earned a degree in music therapy.
- CNY Arts Decentralization Fund Funder — Provided funding support for KEYS Program events.
- DUMAC Partner — Sponsored the Dream Ride Experience weekend for a KEYS kid and his mom.
- Ford Partner — Supported a virtual test drive event that generated $12,000 for KEYS Program services.
- Friendly Ford of Hamilton Partner — Partnered in a virtual test drive event that raised $12,000 for KEYS Program music therapy and concerts.
- Golisano Children’s Hospital at UR Medicine Partner — Hospital where a KEYS music therapist completed an internship and gained clinical experience.
- GuideStar/Candid Network — Recipient of the GuideStar/Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency
- Heartstrings Cello Ensemble Partner — Hosted a virtual concert to benefit KEYS, delivering music and hope to children affected by cancer.
- KEYS Kids Network Network — Hosts recorded Smile Concerts on its page for pediatric cancer patients, families, and the community.
- Marywood University Partner — Academic institution where a KEYS music therapist earned a bachelor's degree and completed an internship.
- Nazareth College Partner — Academic institution where multiple KEYS music therapists received training and where internships are completed.
- Oneida Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Partner — Supports KEYS CORP through grants or sponsorships.
- Oneida Savings Charitable Foundation Partner — Partnered with KEYS on the Mary's Smile Songwriting and Recording Project expansion.
- Quinnie's Garage - "It Takes a Hundred" Partner — Supports KEYS CORP through grants or sponsorships.
- Rome Memorial Hospital Partner — Provided music therapy services at the hospital.
- SIRSY Partner — Performed a benefit concert for KEYS, raising funds and awareness for children affected by cancer.
- SUNY New Paltz Partner — Academic institution where a KEYS music therapist earned a Master's Degree.
- SUNY Oswego Partner — Academic institution where KEYS staff received degrees and completed training relevant to their roles.
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Partner — Academic institution where KEYS staff completed degrees and music therapy training.
- Sherrill Silversmiths Partner — Hosted KEYS Kids Day at a baseball game, providing families a break from cancer treatment.
- Sophie's Giving Tree Partner — Partner organization providing testimonials and likely collaborative support for families.
- The Eastwood Rotary Club Partner — Supports KEYS CORP through grants or sponsorships.
- The George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation Partner — Supports KEYS CORP through grants or sponsorships.
- The Wendt Foundation Partner — Supports KEYS CORP through grants or sponsorships.
- Tony Stewart Foundation Funder — Supported the KEYS Kids Network and music therapy programming.
- Tony Stewart Foundation Partner — Collaborated to distribute Music Toolkits to children's hospital libraries.
- Triad Foundation Funder — Provided support for KEYS Program events and concerts.
+ 6 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cross-Subsidized Program Financingmethodology: cross-subsidized programmingBy operating fee-based community music programs, we generate revenue to fully fund free music therapy and respite services for children with serious illnesses, because earned income from public participation creates a sustainable, mission-aligned funding model.
- Family-Centered Joy and Resilience Buildingmethodology: joy-and-emotional-support-during-illnessBy creating celebratory, high-energy respite experiences and concerts centered on the child and family, we improve emotional resilience and quality of life during serious illness, because joy functions as a therapeutic complement to medical treatment and strengthens family cohesion during crisis.
- Music Therapy as Clinical and Emotional Supportmethodology: clinical-music-interventionsBy delivering clinical, evidence-based music interventions in a professional therapeutic relationship, we achieve individualized emotional and developmental goals for children facing serious illnesses and their families, because music provides a universal, non-threatening medium for expression, connection, and healing.